Issue with RAM speed in AMD 1700x Ryzen "Budget" build
Issue with RAM speed in AMD 1700x Ryzen "Budget" build
I’m trying to achieve a stable 3200MHz performance for my G.Skill Trident Z 3200 RGB CL16 RAM. I’ve set up the system with a NZXT Phantom 530 Black and White case, an EVGA Supernova 850 Gold power supply, and a Ryzen 1700x CPU running at 3.8GHz. The motherboard BIOS is up to date as of September 2017.
However, I only experience consistent speeds around 3000MHz. Windows 10 occasionally forces a restart or causes games to freeze after 10–30 minutes, especially with titles like Witcher 3 and Mass Effect: Andromeda. While I can usually close applications quickly using the Windows key, this isn’t always reliable. I attempted adjusting the DRAM voltage to 1.385, but it didn’t sustain beyond a short period. Other problems include applications failing to launch and video drivers not detecting properly.
When I run the CPU at 3066MHz with CL16 and 16,18,18,38 timings, the system runs smoothly for hours on Mass Effect 3 in 1080p Ultra settings. I suspect the issue isn’t with the CPU itself but possibly with RAM stability or voltage settings. I’ve tried overclocking the CPU to 3.9GHz briefly without long-term success and have avoided pushing voltages beyond the recommended limits.
I’m not aiming for an extreme overclock; my goal is a stable machine that runs at the rated 3200MHz. I’d appreciate specific guidance on settings and methodology, especially since I use AI Tweaker instead of Extreme Tweaker. My setup includes a 65-inch 4K HDR TV and I plan to upgrade the GPU once Intel’s Volta chip is released. I’m hoping for a solid performance with the R9 390 at 1080p or higher settings.
Amdizzle :
SR - 71
I thought that might be the situation. Perhaps upcoming motherboard updates could assist, though my research suggests most issues were resolved before. Still, it's interesting I accidentally adjusted the timings to 14-14-14-14-34 for a short time and didn't encounter problems at 2933 MHz. Could this be something I should try in the future? Or might altering timings bring additional challenges?
vapour - 1
I don’t rely on pre-set DOCP profiles. I attempted them and they failed, even with slower RAM speeds. I’m not sure what XMP means—I apologize. From the context, it seems to be an automatic overclocker, but I’m uncertain how to access it via BIOS or if my motherboard supports it.
Ryzen really cares about RAM speeds, and you're doing great with a consistent 3000mhz.
It seems you're asking about the methods for overclocking RAM, specifically XMP or DOCP, and whether you've verified stability with AIDA64 or RealBench.
SR - 71
I thought I understood the situation. Perhaps upcoming motherboard updates could assist, though my research suggests most issues were resolved previously. Still, it’s interesting that I once set my timings to 14-14-14-14-34 and didn’t encounter problems at 2933 MHz. Could this be a viable option for long-term use? Or might altering the timings create additional complications?
vapour - 1
I don’t rely on pre-set DOCP profiles. I attempted them but they failed, even with lower RAM speeds. I’m unclear about what XMP means—I’m sorry for the confusion. From what I can tell, it seems to be an automatic overclocker, but I’m uncertain how to access it via BIOS or if my motherboard supports it.
Vapour 2. No, I haven't carried out stability testing—mainly because I wasn't sure which programs to apply. I'll attempt the ones you suggested this evening. I completed the UserBenchmark test, which provides a simple overview of system performance. It isn't a comprehensive benchmark, but it can help identify any significant underperforming parts. The RAM and CPU performed "above expectations" for their respective models.
Amdizzle :
SR - 71
I thought that might be the situation. Perhaps upcoming motherboard updates could assist, though my research suggests most issues were resolved before. Still, it's interesting I set my timings to 14-14-14-14-34 for a while and didn't encounter problems at 2933 MHz. Can I try running at long term with this setup? Or are there other risks involved?
Vapour - 1
I don’t rely on pre-adjusted DOCP profiles. I attempted them and they failed, even at slower RAM speeds. I’m not sure what XMP is—I’m sorry. From the context, it seems to be an automatic overclocker, but I’m uncertain how to access it via BIOS or if my motherboard supports it.
I’d prefer sticking with the stable 3000MHz setting. I hope future updates will be helpful. Your adjustments have been excellent—well done!
XMP is your pre-adjusted DOCP. It seems you've matched the timing on the RAM exactly. Could you detail the changes you made from the default settings concerning the RAM?
Stock configurations were outputting values like 15,15,15,15,39. I fixed them by setting them to 16,16,18,18,38 according to the RAM guidelines. I also increased the voltage to 1.375 to ensure stability. The VDDR measured 0.956 (up from 0.85 in stock) based on other users' consistent settings and my testing. VTTDDR was at 0.66 V (up from 0.6 V in stock).
I attempted the DOCP profile for 3200MHz, but simply reducing RAM speed didn’t resolve the issue. The system always restarts near the current settings, though it causes problems during gameplay. It seems the speed adjustment is likely the cause. If this were just a RAM issue, the system might not even start or could crash entirely—rather than freezing the game. The rest of the PC remains unaffected; I can look up reasons online for why my game freezes while idle. At 3000MHz everything works fine as long as I can play.